Know the names of the people who represent you in government, as well as their positions on pertinent issues. Write to them. If you are lucky enough to be represented by a congressperson you respect and admire, donate money to his or her campaign.

Know that some of those responsible for protecting your rights are doing just that, but some are angling to undo them. Be aware of this when voting for politicians and interacting with the police. You counterbalance this kind of power by knowing your rights.

Give some of your money and some of your time to nonprofit groups. I recommend choosing a local organization like a shelter or museum so you can see the direct benefit of your participation, rather than a celebrity-supported cause – they already get plenty of attention.

Genuine politics—even politics worthy of the name—the only politics I am willing to devote myself to—is simply a matter of serving those around us: serving the community and serving those who will come after us. Its deepest roots are moral because it is a responsibility expressed through action, to and for the whole.

Thomas Jefferson wrote in The Declaration of Independence “All men are created equal.” Today, we interpret “men” to mean “people,” but at that time “men” was not intended to be inclusive of women, or even of men who were not white. Inequity existed 200 years ago, and it still exists today. Don’t let anyone tell you that everyone gets a fair shot. Be sympathetic to the disadvantaged and work hard to include them.

The way our constitution is structured you have an inalienable right to an attorney, a gun, a god, and due process. You do not have a right to be healthy, to a doctor, to medicine or to equal access to care that could save your life or the lives of your children. Let this weigh heavily on you as you choose a profession and where to expand your political leanings and charitable giving.

My child, if as a baby you were sometimes comforted by my loving care, and if your heart preserves the memory of those moments, I hope you will place your trust in this advice, which is prompted by my love for you, and that it will help you to be happy.